'I stand by’ my statements on slavery & reparations– Gov Jaspert
On Monday, September 7, 2020, the Governor sparked community outrage when he said that the United Kingdom's (UK) position on paying reparations to the Virgin Islands for acts of slavery and the slave trade was not something that was being considered, hinting that the VI should expect nothing.
Preserve VI’s slave relics – Governor Jaspert
He also called for relics of slavery still present in the territory to be preserved despite community calls for those relics to be renamed so that it can reflect the legacy of Virgin Islanders who shaped the territory.
And now, the Governor in his latest press conference held today, December 3, 2020, has dodged questions on his controversial position, telling the media that attention should be diverted to other issues.
“Today I'm talking about Government issues in the territory, so let's talk a little about that,” Mr Jaspert said.
“What I said previously on slavery is something that I stand by… I think it was disgusting and I think it was wrong and that is something that I'm not going to change, that is what I fundamentally believe on that and that's something that I said at the time,” the Governor told reporters.
Governor ignored calls for apology
Meanwhile, several social commentators and community members including Claude O. Skelton-Cline, Kenneth G. Gladstone, Kishmet B. Daniel and Elroy A. Turnbull have all collectively described the Governor’s comments as insulting, insensitive and derogatory enough to suffice an apology to the people of the Virgin Islands.
Mr Gladstone in a September 11, 2020, interview with Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) said the Governor’s statements were as a result of a racist mentality that is being perpetuated, even as Mr Jaspert was spending VI’s money and enjoying the hospitality of local taxpayers, a majority being the descendants of slaves.
“We are paying for it…he needs to respect the fact that our sweat and blood should be honoured and he is a part of the racist mentality that is perpetrated around the world and the BVI needs to flush it out,” Mr Gladstone said while calling for an apology.
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33 Responses to “'I stand by’ my statements on slavery & reparations– Gov Jaspert”
I stand by my statement Jespert is a ra***t
My neighbor live to see over 100 yrs and she nor her mom was a slave.
Anyway who would have gotten that reparation
Who
Moreover, his statements in regards to reparation for VI descendants and for maintaining the names of pirates, buccaneers....etc on local landmarks were tone deaf. The words and attitude were dismissive, disrespectful and disparaging to a people, the foreparents of VI people, slaves, that were marginalized, brutalized and dehumanized. Slavery was the UK’s original sin. Slaves were captured and enslaved. Through blood, sweat, tears and the lash, their labour built the UK’s economy, capitalized the Industrial Revolution and create white privilege. The special privileges created a sense of entitlement and unearned advantages in education, health, jobs/employment, housing and housing locales, government assistance.....etc. It also allowed Britons to build wealth and leave an inheritance for their descendants. Nonetheless, slave labour built the UK’s economy but slaves could not own property or engage in trade. In fact, they were even forbidden to learn how to read and write. It was about control; keep them from being enlightened and they can be controlled. Eveyone else benefited from slavery save for slaves, ie, slave traders, colonialists, imperialists, slave owners and UK general population.
Moreover, under the Abolition Act of 1833, the UK borrowed £20,000,000 ( 40% of its budget at the time) to compensate some 3,000 slave owning families for the lost of their chattel property. The families of some prominent Britons were compensated. The loan was paid off in 2015, meaning that Black Britons were helping to pay back a loan that was used to compensate slave owners. To date , neither slaves nor their descendants have received a “hapeney” or a farthing or a pence. Slave labour has earned reparation and it is fair and proper that their descendants are made whole through programmes......etc.
Can’t wait for this rac**t big**tto leave already!
He’s not welcome here!
JUST GO ALREADY & NEVER COME BACK!! You and you’re dodgy sycophant Maverick M**k!
ON OUR NECKS THE PAIR OF YOU AT OUR EXPENSE!!
He’s not a diplomat! Just see his resume! Just a Crony of Cameron. A civil servant with white privilege!
Emperor Augustus needs to stop talking & leave.
NOW!!
Sooner he leaves the better!
Brothers and Sisters, please stop giving this disgusting rac**t big** any more air time.
Soon we will thankfully be rid of him.
Hopefully the new governor from Bermuda will know better......
Jaspert's view and mentality is the same as the uk government.
The baroness said she supports jaspert and boris supports jaspert.
Racist discrimination is uk status quo.
Learn that. understand that.
it is clear this childish governor does not care about our people and careless about his deputy governor why the hell he is still hear until January.
People we need to ch**e him out
Stop tell lies the governor is not ***